Slack-adjuster for car-brakes.



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PATENTED DEG. 3, 19o7.-

vW. G. PRICE. SLACKADJUSTER FOR GAR BRAKES. APPLICATION FILED AUG 1s, 1906 wl'rNEssEs'.

MM ffg Z211 No. 872,540. PATENTE@ DEG. s, 1907.

` W. G. PRICE. 1 sLAoK ADJUSTER Fon GAR BRAKES.

`APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 190B. u v

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WITNESSES turn-buckle located preferably in the' bot' UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

WILLIAM G. PRICE, OF NEW CASTLE. PENNSYLVANIA.

SLACK-AIIJUSTER FOR CAR-:BRAKES for railway car trucks, and more especially for Amotor trucks.

The object of the inventionis to rovide automatically operating mechanism or taking up the slack in the brake mechanism due to the-wearing. away of the brake shoes and other causes, so as to preserve a uniform stroke for the brake cylinder piston or other mechanism for actuating the brake mechanisrn.

The invention ycomprises an automatic tom brake rod, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying ydrawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a truck showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the truck; Fig. 3 is a 'lan view of the-turn-buckle Fig. 4 1s an enarged sectional view taken through the turnbuckle and showing the lower ends oi the live and dead levers; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are'en-l larged sectional views of the screw block and rachet collars.; and Fig. 8 is a side view of the piston or rod.

In the drawings the invention has been shown applied to anelectric motor truck, but obviously it can be applied-to any kind of truck or standard form of brake mechanism. The truck shown has side Iframes -1 connected by transoms 2 between which is located` the .swing bolster l4 lsupported on springs 5.A The wheel journalv boxes 6 bear against the equalizer bars 7, as is well known in that type of trucks. The' brake shoes are shown at Slocated between the wheels 9,

said brake shoes being shown without brake beams, though they. maybe connected-,to brake beams. The live lever of the brake mechanism is shown at 11 and is pivotally connected to one of the brake shoes 8, while the dead lever 12 is connected to the other brake shoe and to a bracket 13 on one of the transoms ofthe truck frame. The brake Specification of Letters Patent.

Application `iiled August 18. 1906- Serial lilo.A 331.140

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

shoes are supported by hangers 14 depending from brackets 15 secured to the equalizer bars or other part of the truck frame.

In order to momentarily or temporarily hold the brakebeams in their expanded or spread position, that is,- whenmoved toward the wheels of the truck, I provide suitable frictional means, such as the springs 16 surrounding the pivot bolts 17 which connect the brake beam hangers and the brackets 15, these springs being of sufficient strength to prevent the'brake beams from immediately falling away from the Wheels, thus giving the automatic slack adjuster time to operate.

The parts so far described are, or may be, of any usual or desired construction. My invention vis applied to a connecting rod 18 at the lower ends of the live and dead levers.

It comprises, essentially, an automatically operating turn-buckle in said bottom connecting rod. This turn-buckle comprises an outer tube or sleeve member 20 threaded internally as shown, and having one end there-l of secured to the live lever 11. This connection is made by providing an end member 21 having a.threaded fit in one end ol the tube or sleeve 20 and having suitably secured thereto, such as by means of a rivet 23, a jaw member 24 which is connected to the live lever .11 by a pin 25. The end member 21 is fastened inthe sleeve 2() by a tap bolt 26, the hole for which intersects a counter-bored hole 27 in the inner end of the member 21, so that by removing the tap bolt 26 oil can be introduced into the interior ol the turn.-

'buckle. The bolt 25 is held against displacement by means of a cotter pin 28.

Projecting into the tube or sleeve member 20 is a rod or piston 3() which has secured to,v

its outer end by any suitable means, such as the rivet 3 1, a aw member 32 which in 'turn is connected to the dead 'lever 12 by a piuii held against displacement by a cotter pin 34 or other suitable means. This rod or piston 3() near its inner end has a reduced .portion 35 and beyond the 'same a still smaller portion 36. Loosely surrounding the portion` $36 of this rod is 'a screw block 37 havingr threads formed on its outer'iiace which engage the threads on the interior ol the tube or sleeve member 2() and with a sui'liciently loose iit so that said screw block can be readily ro tated. This screw block forms the anchor or abutment for the rod vor piston 30, as will hereinafter appear, and is automatically rotated so as to change its position in the tube or sieeve member in order to take up the.'

This automatic adjustment is eiected by suitable ratchet mechanism between' Jrcd and 'said screw block. As shown, s ratchet mechanism comprises ratchet 'eeth 33 and 39 formed respectivelyI on the We opposite ends of the screw bloc 37 and @operating-ratchet teeth 40 and 41 formed removement thereon. A. safety spring 47 is arranged between a shoulder 48 on the rod or piston 30 and the outer end of the sleeve 42- and acts normally to press said sleeve toward the screw block 37 as iar as the in 44 -permits. The collar or sleeve 43 isv ed to the outer end of the rod or iston 30 by means of a pin 49. The screw lock 37 has its endprovided with a recess 50 which is adapted in the operation of the device to bear against the shoulder 51 formed on the rod or piston 30 by the reduced portion 36. The ratchet teeth on the two endsof the screw block 37 are in line with each other, while the teeth on the sleeves or collars 42 or 43 are out of line with each other the distance of .one half the width of a tooth.

'The operation of the device is as`ollvows: When the brakes are applied the piston or 40 rod 30 is pushed inwardly in the tube or sleeve member 20 and the teeth 40 on the sleeve 42 engage the teeth 38 on the screw block 37 and the continued inward movement of the rod or piston 30 revolves the screw block until the teeth ci the two members are closed and in line with each other, in which position the shoulderl of the rod or piston 30 presses against the countersunk surface 50 in the screw block and the latter revente the rod or piston from moving fart er into the said tube vor sleeve 20, so that said screw block forms an abutment for the rod 30. When the brakes are released the friction springs 16 on the pivots 17 of the brake beam hangers tend to temporarily hold the brake beams in their outermost or spread position and the movement oi the live lever 11 therefore pulls the tube or sleeve 20 away from the piston or rod 30, thereby causingthe teeth 41 on-the sleeve or collar 43 on said rod to come into contact with the teeth 39 on the opposite end of the screw block 37, and as the teeth on the sleeves 43 and 42 are out of line .with each if-actively on collars or sleeves 42 and 43' should strike the other and spaced apart a distance e ual toi one-half the width of a tooth whilet e two ends of the screw `block 37 are in line with each other, the further -pressure of the sleeve member 43 causes the screw block 37 tofb'e rotated the distance of one-half of the-width of a tooth. When the brakes Aare again a plied the teeth 38 on the opposite end of t e screw block 37 are one half a tooth out of line with the teeth on the sleeve 42, so that the inward'movement of said sleeve 42 again re- -volves the screw block 37 the distance of a half width of a tooth. This action continues until 'the brake -shoes are so' close to the wheels that-the piston or rod 30 on the release of the brakes is not pulled out of the tube or sleeve 20 sutliciently far to cause the teeth on the sleeve 43 to contact with the teeth 39 oh the screw block 37, and consequently said screw block will not be further rotated. The normal distance-between the ends of the teeth on the sleeve 43 and those on the screw block 37 is about one-fourth of the depth of the teeth, and consequently said teeth are prevented from engaging at a time when the slack is not yet all taken up, so that the wheelscan ush the brake shoes awayy farenough to c ear the same. In case the points of the teeth 38 on the screw block 37 l ,oints of the teeth on the sleeve 42 so that t ese teeth would not come together, the spring`47 permits the sleeve 42 to 'move outwardly and thus protects the teeth from being broken.

Inorder to prevent lost motion or slack between the live and dead levers and the jaw members of the turnfbuckle, I provide suitable spring ,mechanism between said levers and the jaw members, t'said spring mechanism being shown as spiral springs 55 surrounding bolts 56 guided in the outer ends of the jaw members and provided with heads 57 which are pressed by the sprin s 55 against the levers, thus pressing said evers firmly against the pins connecting the same to the jaws, and also pressing the ins firmly against the openings the jaws t emselves. Consequently, there is no slack or lost motion at these points. The bolts 56 are provided with slots 58 through which wedges 59 :may be driven in order to compress thesprings 55 when assembling the parts.

In order to prevent moisture or dirt gettin into the open end of the tube member 20' surround said member by a sleeve 60 formed of some iieXible water proof material, and secure one end of said member to thejaw member 32, as for instance by wrapping the same withfwire 61. end of said sleeve is held against the tube member 20, preferably by means of an elastic band 63.

The slack adjuster described is entirely automatic in'its operation, is of simple con- The oppositestruction and .occupies so little s ace that it l said mechanism, said turn-buckle comprising is not materially larger thanv the ottom connecting rod 18.

'1.' Ini'a slack adjuster, the vcombination of brake ap lying'mechanism,` a 'turn-buckle Iin said mec anism, anda ratchet in said-turn'-l -buckle arran' ed'toqrotat'e one elementv of said turn-bue turn buckle. v

2. In brakel mechanism',v the cembinaticn 'Vsaid shoes vapart; -a turn-buckle connectingof shoes, means for spreading the-same a art 'i'rictional means forl momentarily -ho ding said shoes,- and 'a' ratchet' in said turn-buckle arranged to expand' the same when force is v'applied to the turn-buckle.

-v brake applying mechanism, and a turnbuckle in. said mechanism,l said turn-buckle.

. '3 In a slack adjuster, `the combina-tion of having an intern'all threaded member, 'a

screw vit'forkin'g thereln, and a. member lreci '-rocating longitudinally of the turn buc e y I .andy arrange on `its reciprocation to rotate said'screw.4 j

Inv av slack adjuster,.the combination of brake ap lying mechanism, a turnbuckle in said mec anism,1said. turn buckle having an internally threaded member, a screw work- 5' longitudinallyof theturn buckle and pro'- ing therein, and a member reciprocating jecting intothe-hternally threaded member and' guided therebyand arranged on its reciprocationtp rotate .said l'screw'.

5. In a slack dju'ster, the combination of brakev applying '.mjechanism, and a turn buckle in said mechanism, said turn ybuckle having `.an 'internally-,threaded member, a

screw working'thereinj. and a reciprocating adjuster, the combination of brake ap lying mechanism, a turn-buckle in said mec anism, said turn-buckle comprising two elements having a threaded connection, a member having a connection to the brake mechanism and moving therewith',

and a ratchet carried by said member and. arranged on the movement ofsaid membery torotate .one of the elements of the turnbuckle' 7. In a slack adjuster, the combination of brake ap lying mechanism, a turn-buckle in said mecy anism, said;.turn-buckle comprising two members havlng a threaded connection, o ne being connected to the brake mechanism and the other having a ratchet, a member Ialso havingpconnection to the brake mechanism and arranged in its movements to engage the ratchet on one of the threaded members and rotate the same.

. 8. -In a slack adjuster, the combination of brake. applying mechanism, a turn-buckle in e whenforcefis-applied to the v block and reciprocating1 member. u@

aving an 4interna y rco' members having a threadedconnection, one of saidv members 'being connected tothe brakel mechanism, av reciprocatingv member also connected to the brake mechanism, and

ratchet mechanism between said reciprocating'member andthe-other ofthe threaded members to'- rotate the latter.

In a slack adjuster,'the combi-nation of. brake applying mechanism, a turn-buckle inf said mechanism, said turn-bucklehavingtwo members having a threaded connection with :each Vother, one'ofsaid members being connected to the brake mechanism,l a reci rocating'member also connected to the 'bra el mechanism 4and cooperating with the' other movements bythe latter, .and ratchet mechanismbetween' said lastl named threaded member and reciprocating member,v whereby the reciprocation lof the latter member ,rfc-

ltates the other member.

"se threaded member 4and being resisted iii-its.

A10. A turn-buckle having i. an internallyv vthreaded -member, a screw block workingV therein, and a reciprocating member 'coperatingwith the 'screw block and arranged' on its reciprccation to rotate the same..

' 11. A turn-buckle comprising an internally' threadedy member, a reciprocating member therein, a screw block workingk the internally threaded member and forming an abutment for'the reciprocating member,

andratchet mechanism'between said screw v `12. A turn-buckle threaded member, a reciprocating member` therein, a screw block, in the internally threaded member and serving as an .abutf ment for the reciprocating member, said screw block bein'gp-rovided on opposite faces 4vreciprocating member being out of line.

14. A turn-buckle comprising an internally threaded tube, a reciprocating rodtherein, a screw block coperating with the tube and provided with ratchet teeth on its opposite end faces, .said teeth being in line with Aeach other, and members cn the reciprocating rod on opposite sides of the screw block and provided with ratchet teeth for engaging the teeth of the screw block,I the distance between the ratchet teeth on the reciprocating member being greater than the length of the screw block.

15. A turn-buckle comprising an internally threaded-(tube, a reciprocating rod therein, a screw block surrounding thek end 'of the rod and engaging the internally threaded ti'be and provided on its ends with ratchet teer collars on the reciprocating rod on opposi iides of the screwblock and provided with coperating ratchet teeth, one of said collars-bein slidable on the rod, `and a spring fornormal y holding said sleeve toward the screw block. A

'16. In brake mechanism, the combination of live and dead levers, a bottom brake rod connected to the levers by pin and jaw connections, and springs arranged to take up lost motion between the levers, jaws and pins. A

17. In brake mechanism, the combination i of live and dead levers, a bottom brake rod connected to the levers by .pin and j aw connections, and springs arranged between the jaws and levers for taking up lost motion.

18. A slack ad'uster comprising an automatic turn-buckle and a water resisting flexible sleeve covering the same.

19. A turn-buckle comprising an internally threaded member, a rod yentering the same, and a flexible sleeve secured to the protrudin end of the rod and covering 'the turn-buclile.

20. A slack adjusterincluding an automatic turn-buckle comprisin a threaded tube, a rod entering said tu e, a flexible sleeve surrounding the tube and' having one endsecured to the protruding end ofthe rod, and a liexible band securing the opposite end of the sleeve to the tube.

1n testimony whereof, I, the said WILLIAM G. PRICE, have hereunto set my hand.

' WILLIAM G. PRICE.

vWitnesses:

M. D. VOGEL, F. W. WINTER. 

